Luminescent game target



F. G. NICOLAUS Nov. 1, 1955 LUMINESCENT GAME TARGET Filed March 20, 19502 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1, 1955 NICQLAUS 2,722,421

LUMINESCENT GAME TARGET Filed March 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lfl 22 225l MASTER CONTROL 5 22:11- .f- E: If"?! P AAA Erma/ G/Vz'aa/am dffm/cegUnited States Patent Office 2,722,421 Patented NOV-'1, 1955 LUMINESCENTGAME TARGET Frank Nicolaus, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Raymond T.Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 20, 1950, Serial No. 150,580 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-126)This invention has as its principal object the provision of improvementsin game apparatus, and particularly but not exclusively bowling games orthe like using target members, such as ten pins, at which a playerprojects a ball puck, or the like, for score purposes.

One of the detailed objects is the provision of an illuminated targetelement, particularly a bowling pin, which is outlined in its marginalor edgewise contours by light transmitted edgewise through the targetmember or bowling pin, as the case may be.

Another object is the provision in a bowling or like game, of a set often pins formed of transparent plastic, the pins being housed in ashadow box, and each pin being individually illuminated by internallight transmission to outline its shape by an edgewise glow giving aremarkable effect of a set of standing pins in the shadow box.

Another object is the provision of scoring switches in association witheach illuminated pin and. actuated by a playing piece, such as a puck,to effect extinction of the light source for each associated pin tocause the pin outline to disappear and give the effect of a pin knockedover.

A further object is the provision of a conversion unit including ashadow box and set of edgeglow pins adapted to be installed upon ashufile board having electric score control means.

Additional objects and aspects of novelty pertain to details ofconstruction and operation of the embodiment described hereafter in viewof the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a shuffle type bowlinggame having installed an edgeglow pin set and conversion unit;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of one of the edgeglow bowlingpins and mounting means therefor;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the pin of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical elevation of a pin bracket lookingalong lines 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram for control of the pin lights;

Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sections of the edgeglow pins respectivelyillustrating different forms of edge contours for producing the edgegloweffects, the section of Fig. 6 being taken along lines 6-6 of Fig. 2.

One form of game to which the invention is applied is depicted in Fig.1, which discloses the rearward end of an elongated shuflleboard 10mounted in a cabinet 11 between side walls 12.

At the rearmost end of the game is an upright light box 13 having ascore panel 14 with various score indicating numbers 15 and pin scoreindicia 16.

The shuflleboard 10, in practice, may be eight or more feet long, andits surface is highly polished and waxed so that the player may hurl orslidably propel a playing piece or puck 17 rearwardly with the object ofstriking a number of objectives such as the pin scoring switches 18.

The pin switches in the illustrative game are spotted in much the samemanner as tion bowling game.

The object of the player is to score hits on the pin switches in muchthe same manner as in actual bowling, the score being indicated byillumination of lights behind the score panel 14, which indicates theframes played, the numbers 16b of the pins struck, strikes, spares, andat certain times a light-up, as at 160, of the spotted p1I1S.

Electrical switch and control apparatus (not shown in detail) isprovided to control the light-up of the score panel according to theplayers scoring.

The game structure thus far described is known in the art, and does notper se constitute the invention, except insofar as the hereinafterdescribed novelties are employed in combination therewith.

One of the features of the invention is the provision (Fig. l) of ashadow box 20 dimensioned to fit down upon the sidewalls 11, flush withthe sides and backbox of the cabinet, with the bottom wall 21 of the boxspaced above the shuffle alley 10 to permit free movement of the puck 17therebeneath for scoring engagement with the score switches 18.

Within the shadow box 20 are ten target elements 22 in the shape ofbowling pins and spotted in the conventional bowling array (e. g. likethe delineations each said pin being positioned above its correspondingscoring or pin switch 18.

The construction of the pins 22, as depicted in Fig. 2, is anotherfeature of the disclosure, said pins being made of transparent plasticof the class of polystyrene, or any analogous substance having suitablelight transmitting properties and capable of producing edgeglow byinteriorly transmitted light projected edgewise thereinto.

The main upper portion of the playing piece in this example is in theoutline shape of a conventional ten pin, but has a lower transverselyextended mounting foot 23 fitting down into a slot 21X in the floor 21of the light box, where said foot is attached, as by screws 24, to abracket 25 (see also Fig. 4), secured as at 26 (Fig. 3) to the undersideof floor 21.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the foot portion 23 of each pin '22 is providedwith a central, rounded opening or cut-out 22A into which fits the bulbof a lamp 27.

The lamps 27 are mounted in sockets 28 (Figs. 2 and 3), secured byscrews 29 to the underside of the box floor 21, and each lamp and itssocket fits into a routed recess 30 in the underside of the floor.

In one preferred form, each of the pins is provided with marginaledgeglow formations 22B (Figs. 2 and 6) delineating the outline of theplaying piece, in this instance a bowling pin. This marginal formation22B consists in cutting grooves, preferably into each face of the pin,along its border or edge, so as to leave the marginal flange 22BX ofreduced thickness delineating the contour or outline of the object.

Said flanges 22BX are roughened by ordinary routing or relieving toolssufficiently to produce a very satisfactory edgeglow effect. But if thepins are cast with the marginal flanges or reliefs 22B, 22BX,precautions should be taken to have these parts leave the mold withroughened surfaces, or to treat and toughen these parts subsequently.

In Fig. 7 is shown another edge formation 222 made on a radius androughened to produce edgeglow effects. However, the radial limitationsare not present in the embodiment of Fig. 6, and the marginal lightingelfects can be much more pronounced.

It should be remarked that the means of Fig. 2, when viewed in theshadow box, affords a strikingly realistic effect, notable first,because the entire transparent body of the pin 22 within its marginalthe ten pins in a regulapin and luminosity contours, is slightlyilluminated to a degree to give the impression of a full-bodied bowlingpin when viewed in the darkened interior of the box 20 from the front orplaying end of the game.

Moreover, this effect is enhanced by the more brilliant edgeglow bordersabout the transparent body of the pins, and when the individual lightsources or lamps 27 for the several pins are extinguished the elfect isthat of the complete disappearance of the associated pin, much as thoughit had been struck over by a bowling ball.

The box 20 and included pins 22 and lamps 27 may be adapted (by suitabledimensioning of the box 21 and spotting of pins 22) to fit onto anybowling game of the class described for conversion purposes, and thelamps 27 may be connected into existing control and score switchfacilities in the manner hereinafter described.

The pins produce an excellent luminescent edgeglow effect when made ofan acrylic resin plastic. However, many other materials, includingglass, will produce satisfactory luminescent effects.

In Fig. 5, is shown a schematic circuit arrangement to illustrate thelamp control for the several pins through their associated scoreswitches, as applied to a known type of bowling game.

The several pin or score switches 18 are connected through a pin lamprelay bank 40 to operate the conventional relays 40A thereof and actuatecorresponding relay switches 40B (only one shown) for each of the lamps27.

At the beginning of a round of play, or a bowling frame, all of thelamps 27 may be energized through corresponding relay switches in thebank under control of a master circuit control and cycling unit 41 ofknown type, to actuate among other things reset coil 41A, and wheneverthe puck 17 strikes a score or pin switch 18 the corresponding relay inbank 40 trips out or is actuated to extinguish the corresponding lamp27, causing the delineation of the corresponding pin 22 to disappear, inefiect.

The targets 22 need not be bowling pins, but may assume different shapesto represent other game objectives, and one or any number of suchobjectives may be employed with suitable circuit means for illuminatingand extinguishing the associated lamp means in accordance with a desiredscheme of play; and the puck 17 may be replaced by a ball to operateswitches 18 as in a conventional ball-rolling game.

Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the precise form ofconstruction or arrangement shown, but contemplate the inclusion of allmodifications and adaptations fairly coming within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a game of the type including a score switchactuated by a playing piece, and a lamp control circuit havingconnection with said score switch for operation by the latter,improvements comprising, to wit: a transparent edgeglow objective, ashadow box housing said objective, a lamp mounted opposite an edgeportion of said objective to direct light into said edge portionthereof, said lamp connected in said lamp control circuit forillumination and extinction under control of said score switch.

2. In a simulated bowling game, in combination, a shadow box, simulatedbowling pins spotted in said box, said pins being formed of a materialhaving the property of conducting light internally and produce edgegloweffects, a lamp operatively associated with each pin and mounted closeto an edge thereof to direct light edgewise therein, and circuit meansconnected to illuminate each lamp and including a score switch for eachlamp and having a part disposed on a playing surface adjacent each pinto be engaged and actuated by a playing piece propelled thereat on saidsurface for extinguishing said lamps to produce an apparentdisappearance of any pin when the associated score switch is actuated bysaid playing piece.

3. In a shufileboard game of the simulated bowling type having a playingsurface over which a playing piece is propelled and spotted bowling pinswitches of a type which are actuated by a said playing piece, togetherwith lamp relay means actuated by each pin switch, improvementscomprising, namely: a shadow box mounted above said spotted pin switchesa distance to permit the playing piece to pass therebeneath, simulatedbowling pins spotted in said box and each respectively mounted inaligned vertically-spaced association with one of said switches suchthat the playing piece may be projected in a direction toward andbeneath any said bowling pin to engage and operate the associatedswitch, said bowling pins each being transparent and of a materialcapable of transmitting light to produce an edgeglow efiect, a pin lampmounted at the foot of each pin to direct light edgewise into the same,edgeglow formations around the margins of each pin, circuit meansnormally energizing and illuminating all said pin lamps and circuitmeans including said pin switches for operation by the latter switchesto severally deenergize and extinguish said pin lamps responsive toactuation of the associated pin switch by a said playing piece.

4. For use in simulated bowling game apparatus including a score switchactuated by a playing piece, illuminated objective means including ashadow box, an object standing in said box and comprising a relativelythin body of material shaped in the outline form of a bowling pin and ofa character which will transmit light internally from its edges and berendered luminous thereby, said object having a foot portion shieldedfrom the interior of the box, a lamp directing light into an edge ofsaid body at said foot portion for transmission into the body from theedges of said object, edgeglow surfaces around predetermined marginalportions of said object and exposed to view in said box to provide anedgewise luminous outline of the object in simulation of a bowling pin,and a circuit controlled by said switch for controlling energization ofsaid lamp.

5. A luminescent objective attachment for use with games of the typehaving a playing surface on which a playing piece is moved andscore-switches respectively including switch-operating members at saidsurface between opposite sidewall portions, for actuation by a saidplaying piece, said attachment comprising, to wit: a panel a of a lengthand width to be supported at a predetermined height above said switchoperating members on said sidewall means, said playing piece being of asize capable of passing beneath said panel at said height for engagementwith any said switch-operating member, luminescent game objectivesrespectively mounted in upright position at the upper side of saidpanel, a lamp for illuminating each game objective and mounted beneathsaid surface and the appertaining game objective, and means providingoperating circuits between said lamps and score switches for controllingenergization and deenergization of said lamps and consequentillumination of said game objective by action of said playing piece inactuating said switch-operating members.

6. In amusement apparatus of the type including a playing field overwhich a playing piece is projected, and control switch devices includingoperating means therefor situated in said field to be engaged andactuated by a said playing piece skillfully directed thereat,improvements comprising to wit: simulated target elements mounted abovesaid field each adjacent a particular associated one of saidcontrol-switch operating means such that a projected playing piece maypass beneath the simulated target element to engage and actuate a saidswitch-operating means and the appertaining switch device associatedtherewith, said target elements each comprising a solid body constructedof a material capable of transmitting light internally from an edgesurface thereof through the body thereof to substantially illuminatesaid body, an electrically controlled light source situated near an edgesurface of each said target element body to illuminate the same asaforesaid, means including circuit connections with said associatedcontrol-switch devices for controlling operation of said light sourcesto change illumination of the appertaining simulated target element bodyas aforesaid, responsive to operation of the appertaining switch deviceby a playing piece.

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